December 28, 2007 Economist Tim Harford Will Discuss Why the Rich Are Rich and the Poor Are Poor

Economist Tim Harford will talk about his recent book “The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich and the Poor Are Poor * and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!” at the Library of Congress in February. Harford, who is a columnist at the Financial Times in London, will speak at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, in the West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. A book signing will follow the talk. Sponsored by the Library’s Science, Technology and Business Division, the event is free and open to the public; no reservations are required. Maps and directions to the Library are available at www.loc.gov/loc/maps/. Harford is noted for his ability to relate the principles of economics to everyday life in a clear and entertaining style. “The Undercover Economist” takes up such issues as “who really makes money from fair trade coffee, why beer and fries are linked to globalization, and how the Mafia makes money from laundries when street gangs pushing drugs don’t.” Harford writes the “Dear Economist” column for the Financial Times, in which readers’ personal problems are handled tongue-in-cheek with the latest economic theory. He is also the presenter of a TV series for BBC2 called “Trust Me, I’m an Economist.” Harford has been a researcher at International Finance Corporation (part of the World Bank) and has served as a scenario expert at Shell.